U.S. wins in Mexico for 1st time

Orozco-Fiscal's goal make history for Americans

Michael Orozco-Fiscal celebrates after his goal put the U.S. ahead in an eventual 1-0 win in Mexico. (Edgard Garrido/Reuters photo)

MEXICO CITY — It took 25 matches and 75 years, but the United States finally emerged from a match south of the border with a victory.

Michael Orozco-Fiscal scored in the 80th minute to clinch a 1-0 win at the Azteca Stadium and hand the Americans their first-ever win in Mexico.

The United States is now 1-23-1 over its 25 matches on Mexican soil, grabbing its first positive result south of the border since 1997.

Mexico, meanwhile, has lost just nine times at the Azteca in 120 matches.

The home nation controlled much of the match, pressuring Tim Howard's net with a plethora of scoring opportunities.

Javier Hernandez, affectionately known as Chicharito, missed a sitter in the 76th minute when he mistimed his header off a cross from Aldo De Nigris and sent his effort wide of the post from close range.

The Mexicans were left to rue that miss as Orozco, a 77th-minute substitute, came on and stole the winner 10 minutes from time.

Brek Shea entered the match in the 78th minute and made an immediate impact, beating his mark to the endline and sending in a low cross to the top of the six-yard box. Striker Terrence Boyd received the delivery and back-heeled a short pass to the back post where Orozco-Fiscal was waiting to convert.

Mexico did not go down without a fight. Chicharito's 85th-minute shot took a wicked deflection and looked destined for the back of the net, but Howard pulled off a miraculous save, quickly changing directions to collect the ball just before it reached the goal line.

Howard had time for one more jaw-dropping stop, clearing a ball off the line in the dying minutes as the American defense quickly cleared their lines to ride Orozco-Fiscal's strike to a historic victory.